Sadio Mane to retain his spot? – Predicted 4-3-3 Liverpool XI to face Fulham in the Premier League

Fulham vs Liverpool Predictions: Liverpool Line-up

Liverpool stormed into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a classy 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, thanks to a brace from Sadio Mane.

The Reds claimed all three points in their previous outing in the Premier League with a 4-2 victory over Burnley at home and Jurgen Klopp’s men will once again be the outright favourites when they make the trip to west London to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Liverpool are just a point behind leaders Man City and they will be hoping to leapfrog the Citizens to the top of the Premier League, with Pep Guardiola’s side playing in the FA Cup this week.

The Merseysiders made easy work of Fulham at Anfield last time around with a comfortable 2-0 win and they will need to do something similar away from home if they are to stay alive in the title race.

Team News

Jordan Henderson limped off the field against Bayern with an ankle injury and he is ruled out for the Premier League fixture against Fulham. Trent Alexander-Arnold also picked up a thigh injury and won’t play a part on Sunday while Joe Gomez is a long-term absentee for the Reds.

Naby Keita will be pushing to make a return the sidelines and his inclusion will be subject to a late fitness test.

Formation: 4-3-3

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

Predicted XI

1. Alisson Becker (GK)

The Brazilian put in another solid shift between the sticks against Bayern and has always been a reliable presence at the back.

2. James Milner (RB)

The veteran did a good job in the midfield on Wednesday night and he might be forced to fill in at right-back on Sunday due to the injury to Alexander-Arnold.

3. Virgil van Dijk (CB)

The Dutchman proved once again why he is one of the best defenders in the world, producing a world-class display to keep Lewandowski at bay.

4. Dejan Lovren (CB)

Matip looked shaky against Burnley and scored an own goal in the Champions League so Klopp should hand the Croatian a start for this one.

5. Andrew Robertson (LB)

The Scotsman played an important role in the triumph over Bayern and has been a key figure down the left all season.

6. Fabinho (CDM)

The Brazilian did the dirty job to good effect in central midfield in the Champions League tie and he should get a start on Sunday, with Jordan Henderson unavailable.

7. Georginio Wijnaldum (RCM)

He has been one of the mainstays of Liverpool’s midfield this season and has kept things ticking with his all-around contribution to both defence and attack.

8. Adam Lallana (LCM)

Naby Keita is yet to return from injury and Milner might have to play at right-back so Klopp should continue to rely on the Englishman who had a wonderful outing against Burnley.

9. Mohamed Salah (RW)

The Egyptian wizard looked threatening on the break with his pace in the Champions League and produced a delightful pass for Mane’s second goal.

10, Sadio Mane (LW)

He is the man in form for Liverpool at the moment and the Reds will need him to fire on all cylinders against Fulham on Sunday.

West Ham raiding London rivals for this 24-year-old goal machine would be an absolute masterstroke

West Ham Opinion: Why Aleksandar Mitrovic will be an ideal fit for West Ham

According to a report from Football.London,
West Ham were linked with a January swoop for Fulham hitman Aleksandar
Mitrovic.

The Serbian, 24, has been one of the rare bright sparks for Fulham in an otherwise miserable campaign in the Premier League.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has shown that he is capable of playing well at this level and there will be plenty of suitors for him if Fulham go down at the end of the season, which looks very likely after their last weekend’s defeat against Liverpool.

That being said, should West Ham plot a summer move for the 24-year-old centre-forward this summer?

Absolutely! West Ham were set to lose Marko Arnautovic to an unnamed Chinese club in January before the Austrian made a U-turn and signed a one-year contract extension at the London Stadium.

Despite penning a new contract, there’s an air of uncertainty that Arnautovic will leave the club at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Andy Carroll is out of contract at West Ham in June and chances of him earning an extension have seemingly dried up after the 30-year-old injured his ankle once again.

Javier Hernandez has struggled this season with only eight goals in 25 games, while Lucas Perez remains out of favour under Pellegrini.

Considering West Ham’s current situation, signing a
centre-forward is a must if Pellegrini is to challenge the Premier League’s Big
Six next term. And Mitrovic would fit the bill perfectly at the London Stadium.

A big, burly and physical centre-forward, Mitrovic has been almost unplayable when he is on song this season. He is an old-fashioned centre-forward who excels in the holding the ball up and bringing his teammates into the game.

The 24-year-old is hard as a nail, difficult to dispossess and an all-day threat in the box.

Mitrovic is fantastic in the air and his ability to link-up play and swiftly run in the box hoping for a cross make him such a difficult player to mark. The former Anderlecht and Newcastle United man is also a composed finisher in front of goal.

One of his biggest strengths up top is his anticipation as he drives into the box and has the ability to take a shot on from a pass or cross and find the back of the net in a blink of an eye.

Conclusion

Mitrovic is known for his aggression and physicality and can provide quality and depth up front for Pellegrini’s West Ham.

With Carroll’s contract expiring in June and possibility of Arnautovic leaving if a bigger club comes calling, the Hammers desperately need another forward who can cause defences problems in a physical manner.

And Pellegrini can do a lot worse than sign a Premier League
proven forward, Mitrovic.

Man United should go all out to beat Tottenham £50m pursuit of this explosive 18-year-old PL starlet

Manchester United Opinion: Why Ryan Sessegnon will be a top fit for United

According to a report from the Daily Mail, Tottenham are plotting a £50million summer swoop for Fulham teenage prodigy Ryan Sessegnon.

Ryan Sessegnon, 18, is out of contract at Craven Cottage in
2020 and has not agreed fresh terms, with Tottenham one of the European
clubs considering a move for him. The likes of Manchester United and Paris
Saint-Germain are also monitoring his situation closely, adds the report.

Sessegnon has struggled with the step-up to the Premier League football this season as Fulham lie in the relegation zone. Yet, Manchester United should step up their interest and beat the likes of Tottenham and PSG to the 18-year-old’s signature.

Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken of the need for the club to recruit “quality players” in the summer to challenge for the Premier League title next season.

The Norwegian was brought in to replace Jose Mourinho in December until the end of the season, although he is widely expected to become their next permanent manager after winning 14 of his 19 matches in charge.

But after being lauded for his impact since replacing Mourinho, the painful truth for Solskjaer is that his Manchester United team’s latest performance in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-finals was undoubtedly the poorest as anything they have produced under the Norwegian tactician.

The defeat was not only an eye-opener for the 46-year-old but also a rude reminder about United’s apparent lack of squad depth. United will need to strengthen this summer if they are to challenge for the Premier League title next season and reinforcing the defence has got to be Solskjaer’s priority.

Competition for Luke Shaw at left-back is indeed required and Sessegnon will be an ideal fit for the Red Devils. Even though Sessegnon has excelled in an advanced role on the left for Fulham, but has been exposed a lot of times defensively.

Solskjaer would certainly have a challenge on his hands to improve the defensive facets of the 18-year-old’s game. Sessegnon has plenty of pace to burn, energy, agility, crossing abilities and willingness to work tirelessly throughout the game. He is also a very good passer of the ball and his game-reading abilities belie his age.

Verdict

Despite his obvious flaws and a lukewarm debut season in the Premier League, Sessegnon remains a precocious talent. It has been a challenging season for the teenager and the Cottagers in the Premier League but it’s well worth recalling that he is a young talent who will be better with experience.

Sessegnon is yet to commit his long-term future at Craven Cottage with his present deal set to expire in 2020 and the Daily Mail reports that Spurs want to sign him and loan him back to Fulham for the 2019-20 campaign.

The Mirror also adds that Spurs are the favourites to get their hands on the coveted teenage prospect, with Sessegnon reluctant to move out of London so early in his career.

After a wonderful season in the Championship last term which saw Sessegnon play a key role in Fulham’s promotion to the Premier League with 16 goals and 8 assists, the 18-year-old was tipped by many to make an instant impact in the Premier League.

And Sessegnon has not disappointed his fans, chipping in with 2 goals and 5 assists in the top flight this season.

Along with Aleksandar Mitrovic, 18-year-old Sessegnon has been one of the shining lights of Fulham’s otherwise disastrous campaign in the Premier League this season.

He has proven himself as a wonderful utility player at the highest level, playing at left-back and also further up the pitch as a left-winger.

Tottenham’s interest in Sessegnon might raise a few eyebrows as the Lilywhites already boast of established players like Ben Davies and Danny Rose at left-back.

It is quite clear that the north London giants want the youngster as a part of their long-term plans and he might eventually break his way into the first-team in the subsequent seasons.

Sessegnon is known for his blistering pace and offensive abilities as a full-back, whilst also boasting of good trickery and flair on the ball.

The 18-year-old uses his directness to beat his opposite number, often relying on his dribbling, acceleration and ability to change directions quickly.

To add to that, the English prodigy also excels with his passing ability, linking up with his teammates after cutting inside or whipping accurate crosses across the six-yard box from the wide areas. Furthermore, he is also a useful asset during set-piece situations.

Undoubtedly, Sessegnon is a player with massive potential and he can establish himself as a long-term successor to the likes of Rose and Davies provided he continues his development in the right direction.

He is still in the developmental phase of his career and he needs to work a bit more of his defensive game to play regularly for a top-six club in the Premier League.

Still only 18, Ryan Sessegnon is a star in the making and it should be a no-brainer for Spurs to acquire him as a part of their long-term plans.

Having failed to sign a new player for two transfer windows, the Lilywhites should be desperate to add a few fresh faces to their squad in the summer and Sessegnon might be high on Mauricio Pochettino’s wishlist.